Overexpression of Aspergillus nidulans α-1,3-glucan synthase increases cellular adhesion and causes cell wall defects

Med Mycol. 2018 Jul 1;56(5):645-648. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myx090.

Abstract

Alpha-1,3-glucan is important for pathogenesis by Aspergillus fumigatus, but the mechanism is unclear since the deletion has no hyphal phenotype. We dissected the roles of A. nidulans α-1,3-glucan in constitutive overexpression strains. Constitutive high-level α-1,3-glucan synthase activity increased hyphal wall thickness, but colonies grew slowly and sporulated poorly and had much higher adhesion to hydrophobic materials. Surprisingly, this overexpression strain formed a biofilm-like structure in plastic culture wells that was as adhesive as wild-type A. fumigatus. These results suggest α-1,3-glucan has important roles in fungal cellular adhesion and may contribute to fungal pathogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus nidulans / cytology
  • Aspergillus nidulans / enzymology
  • Aspergillus nidulans / genetics*
  • Aspergillus nidulans / growth & development
  • Biofilms / growth & development
  • Cell Adhesion*
  • Cell Wall / enzymology
  • Cell Wall / ultrastructure*
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression
  • Glucans / biosynthesis
  • Glucosyltransferases / genetics*
  • Hyphae / growth & development
  • Spores, Fungal / growth & development

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Glucans
  • alpha-1,3-glucan
  • Glucosyltransferases